Residents, commissioners weigh new Polk County Parkway routes; Davenport meeting set

Lake Wales — Residents and city officials discussed the Polk County Parkway planning process at the May 6 commission meeting after a resident said he received a mailing from the Florida Department of Transportation describing multiple proposed routes.

Resident Frank Lum told the commission he received materials showing four originally labeled routes (A, B, C and D) and that he learned of additional alternatives (E and F) that appear to start farther north on U.S. 27, in the Dundee/Waverly Road area. Lum told the commission there will be a public meeting in Davenport the following day where officials would show route alternatives and accept comments.

City Manager and staff confirmed the turnpike authority and FDOT have unveiled two new northern corridors and that the Highway 60 connection is still being considered but is not the active focus at this stage. The city manager said right-of-way acquisition work can proceed in sections while the exact Highway 60 connection is being studied. The commission urged residents to attend the Davenport meeting or view the presentation online, and a city representative said the Turnpike Authority is amenable to hosting a local town-hall presentation in Lake Wales in the near future.

Commissioner Thompson praised residents’ input and said he believed the commission’s earlier letter and outreach helped influence the routing process. The record shows staff and residents encouraged public review of the route maps and attendance at the Davenport meeting to express concerns and ask questions.